The scientist leading the hike didn’t know whether I was
serious when I asked him if Bigfoot resided nearby. His answer was, “Not that I
know of.”
One of today’s highlights was a hike in the SE Alaska rainforest. A
green carpet of moss covered everything, especially fallen trees. We went way
inland enough to see old growth forest which was left alone by loggers in the
20th century because it was too far from shore. So we got the
pleasure of seeing trees that were 500 to 1,000 years old.
Also on that hike, we watched salmon swimming and jumping
their way upstream to spawn and then to die. Very cool!
Today’s lecture from a naturalist (I keep trying to say
naturist, but that’s something else) was about whales. Whales are really smart.
Much to the chagrin of whoever’s in charge, some whales have learned that if
they hang out near the hatchery, they can capture the newborn fish as they are
released. It really messes up the restocking of Pacific salmon.
Right before lunch, we stood on the bow watching humpbacks
do bubble netting. They exhale under water creating a wall of bubbles which herds
the krill into a tight, dense wall of food that the giant animals gobble right
up.
I will have a million pictures for Facebook when we get
home. Unfortunately the satellite link to the internet can only transmit text,
and it costs $.70 per minute or something like that. So for now, anyone who’s
interested in our travels will just have to read about it here.
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